CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

05-09-2022

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, May 09, 2022, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Present were Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; and Mike Watkins, Member. Rod Tauck, Vice Chair joined by video conference.

The meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m.

There was no public comment.

Carl Knapp Road and Bridge Supervisor and Brian Ballou County Road and Bridge employee, joined the meeting for Brian’s 6-month probation review. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Brian to be removed from probation based on Carl’s recommendation. Brian will receive an increase in wages and use of vacation and sick leave. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve an early warrant in the amount of $79,900.00 for the purchase of a 6x6 plow truck that Carl will fly to Atlanta, Georgia to pick up if it is in good condition. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting to discuss the increase in County internet bill. There has been internet usage for numerous streaming sites that would not be used for conducting County business. Judy requested permission to have the sites blocked and change the log in passwords for the County internet access. The commission agreed to have Judy contact DIS and Mid-Rivers to have the sites blocked so that they may not be used on County internet services.

The commission discussed scheduling the salary compensation meeting for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

Sheriff Neil Kittelmann joined the meeting to discuss the BLM Fire Restriction agreement. The commission wants to make sure that the agreement has no consequences with the agreement with the BLM or DNRC with fire suppression agreements.

The commission discussed the Health Board structure and By-laws. The Board requested that Corbit rewrite by-laws with options to replace the commissioners on the Health Board. The commission is also looking to review the Health Board employee job descriptions. The next Health Board meeting was scheduled for May 26, 2022.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Resolution 05092022-01 declaring a disaster from the recent severe snow storms. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept William Kalstrom’s resignation from the maintenance position at the Carter County Airport. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The clerk was instructed to place and ad in the paper for the position opening.

The Board discussed the Old Hospital building. They are waiting for word on funding from DEQ/EPA to begin the process of revitalization or demolition. Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry filled out a questionnaire for environmental site assessment April 28, 2022. There was discussion about discontinuing the electricity and water service.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the meeting minutes for April 29, 2022 and May 02, 2022 with corrections. There was no public comment. The motion carried.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12 p.m. and reconvened at 1 p.m.

Carter County Public Health employees scheduled to meet with the commission regarding the use of the Congregate Living Coordinator (CLC) funds. Kirstie Nelson, County Health Nurse and Stefanie Harrington Public Health Administrator and Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting. Kevin O’Loughlin from Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Trish Laughlin Carter County Public Health officer/nurse phoned in to the meeting.

Kevin stated that the funds can be used for the purposes of hiring/filling a position to work as a Congregate Living Coordinator. This has not been done in the smaller communities so the funds have been used to pay for on call time, as a stipend or hazardous pay for the staff that would be performing the duties of the CLC. He also stated that if the funds are not used they must be returned.

The DPHHS is setting new strict guidelines for the use of grant funds so that documentation of use would be required. Kevin will be available for help with any questions that come up with all issues with Public Health.

Trish stated that DPHHS grant funds can not be used to fund building projects unless specifically stated in the grant. She would like to make sure that the funds, $40,000.00, COVID-19 Mental Health funds received last year were appropriated according to the grant. Pam agreed to send a copy of the grant to Trish.

There was a call placed to Auditor Bob Denning of Denning Downing and Associates where he explained the need to document the use of the funds and use monies in the way outlined in the grant. He recommended setting up a separate accounting fund specifically for the CLC funds and run the payments through payroll.

There was continued discussion on the ways the CLC funds could be payed out to the Carter County Public Health employees. Including the hourly rate between $2.25- $3.00 for on call wages. The payments could be split 3 ways and paid out retroactive to the Carter County Public Health employees in addition to their regular wages retroactive from July, 2021. The grant is for $14,500.00 sent in quarterly payment to the County.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Pamela J Castleberry, Clerk of the Board

05-12-2022

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, May 12, 2022, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Present were Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; Rod Tauck, Vice Chair and Mike Watkins, Member.

DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski stepped into the meeting with the PDM - Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan invoice for signature. It will be paid to Fallon County as the cost for the plan was paid for by Fallon Co. with the agreement that Carter Co would reimburse them for the cost of the plan. Georgia left the meeting.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington, Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry and Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting.

The Expenditures Budget report for 2022-2023 fiscal year was reviewed.

The Public Health Budget was discussed, including ways of funding the program as it is not a levied fund. It is funded through grant funds. The COVID-19 funding that was set to be used to off set the costs of setting up the new Public Health Department but the County has found that only a small portion of the funds can be used for Public Health. The rest will be placed into the Public Safety fund.

Attorney Harrington presented the Board with a second disaster declaration Resolution # 05122022-01 that would not have to be approved by the Governor before being released to the DES Coordinator and the County FSA. The second snow storm disaster declaration Resolution # 05122022-01 was signed by the commission. No motion was made.

The Board agreed to make the final payment to Scull Construction for the new hospital building. Judy looked up the amount paid to Slate Architect to see that they have already been paid in full for the project.

There was also discussion regarding the Dahl Memorial bond funds and the proper accounting procedures for the funds. The commission will discuss this further with Auditor Bob Denning.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12 p.m. and reconvened at 1:05 p.m.

The commission called Eastern Montana Mental Health regarding the 2022- 2023 allocation of alcohol tax disbursement. They talked to Brenda Kneeland of the Miles City office who stated that it is a yearly contract that has not been released for 2022-2023.

DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski joined the meeting to ask if the commission have decided about the road renaming request. County attorney requested that a petition be used to facilitate the renaming of the road. The commission would like to make sure that all the legal steps are followed to meet the guidelines for 911 addressing as well as State statute. They requested that there be a meeting set up with Dale Butori of Fallon County DES/ 911 scheduled for June 06, 2022.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Pamela J Castleberry, Clerk of the Board